Thrór

Thrór, also rendered Thror in some texts, was a Dwarf king of Durin's Folk and a central figure in the early history of Erebor. He is best known as the grandfather of Thorin Oakenshield and the father of Thrain II, placing him as an early ruler in the line of the Kings under the Mountain. As a leader of Durin's Folk, Thrór governed from the Lonely Mountain region and presided over a period of renewed efforts to reclaim their lost realms from threats that included Orcs and other dark powers.

Thrór's reign is described as a time of renewed dwarven activity in the northern lands, culminating in attempts to restore Erebor and Khazad-dûm to their former prominence. His leadership ended during the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, when he was slain by Azog the Defiler at the Battle of Azanulbizar. His death led to the succession of his son Thrain II, and later, the rise of his grandson Thorin Oakenshield, who would eventually reclaim Erebor many generations later.

Legacy and significance in Tolkien’s legendarium center on Thrór’s place in the Durin lineage and the dynastic history of the Longbeards. The tale of Thrór explains the lineage that connects the Dwarves of Erebor to Thorin and to the broader history of Durin’s Folk, as recounted in works such as The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings Appendices, and is referenced in The Hobbit’s backstory.